George W. Bush misses Air Force One

George W Bush really misses flying on Air Force One and saluting soldiers.

huffingtonpost.com

Former President George W. Bush said on Wednesday that he misses flying on Air Force One, according to ABC News, Feb. 19, 2014. The former President said that he also missed the people with whom he served when he was in the White House; but, most of all, he misses saluting soldiers who, as he said, "volunteered to defend our nation during war."

Mr. Bush, who heads the annual mountain bike ride for veterans who have been wounded in the line of duty, reaffirmed his commitment to helping veterans transition to civilian life after leaving military service:

“What most veterans want is to have their service understood and appreciated for what it is: A formative experience in their lives and a source of skills and values that prepare them to succeed in civilian lives. Our veterans have defended the American people and now they want to experience the American dream.”

One of the things that Mr. Bush called for is the elimination of the word, "disorder" from the term, "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." The former President indicated that the term needs to be eliminated because of the stigma associated with it. As he indicated, PTSD is not so much a disorder as it is an injury. Bush expressed his intrinsic belief that PTSD is a treatable condition that emanates from the ravages of war:

“Veterans receiving treatment for post traumatic stress are not damaged goods. They are not mentally shattered. They are people who got hurt defending their country and are now overcoming wounds.”

George W. Bush was the forty-third President of the United States and served from 2001 to 2009. He was President when the Taliban attacked the Twin Towers and the Pentagon in 2001. He is the son President George H.W. Bush who served from 1989 to 1993.

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Kevin McClarty is a teacher for the Stockton Unified School District. He also is a political activist and community organizer. He has written many articles and columns and op-ed pieces for local publications and websites. Contact Kevin at kmcc@inreach.com.